Lyceus Group | Best PR & Communications Firm
Tucker Slosburg, President, Lyceus Group answers the questions on the firm’s win in the Institutional Asset Manager awards.
Why do you think you won this award? / What is the size and scale of your business at the moment?
Dexterity: the beauty of the boutique rests in its dexterity. By remaining nimble, we’re able focus on targeting select clients who understand and believe in PR as a long-term process. We strive to offer tailored strategies by providing tailored services, which requires time, talent, patience, and, of course, creativity.
We’re not out to build the largest agency; we want to build partnerships. We measure success not in billings, but client satisfaction and longevity. I’m honoured, excited, and humbled that the voters recognise those values as well.
What trends have you seen over the past year?
The party is over. From SPACs, crypto, and an over-development of ESG, we’re seeing the final days of an anything goes mania. In particular, 2023 closed the chapter on the era of what we call “dorm room ideas”. Products that sounded like they were hatched in late night dorm room haze, but offer no value to investors are, in fact, proving that they have no value. We’ve seen several investment ideas that sound novel but fail to offer substantial value or solve an actual need. Yes, it’s wonderful to have a great ticker, but that shouldn’t be the base of an investment thesis.
Out of the littered hallways of novelty, we are starting to see some real innovations in the fixed-income space on the ETF side of things. For example, the development of the single-bond ETF at F/m Investments. Fixed income hasn’t been this exciting in 40 years; maybe because it’s now been equitised. Similarly on the fixed-income side – and this has been a steady trend – private credit will likely continue growing, but at a slower pace. We’ve been fortunate to work with some wonderful private credit managers over the last few years and don’t think they’re at a mania yet.
Finally, we’re seeing more interest in active stock-pickers and alternatives, particularly interval funds. Managers with high active share and an understanding of how to think about investing when interest rates are more than zero have a real opportunity for growth.
What plans do you have for growing your business over the coming year?
A private credit manager once told me his business started making sense 10 years into his five-year plan. Humour to be sure, but also gives a nod to the vicissitudes of fortune. We’re not so naïve to leave everything to fate, despite her ability to disrupt our best laid schemes. However, we do have plans.
From a growth perspective, conferences are back. With remote work, managers, investors, and employees are looking for ways to connect in person. Our clients are leaning into them, and so are we. We’re also looking at targeted sponsorships in niche/regional investment communities. It’s a wonderful way to bring great minds together and support the industry.
Talent underpins any creative type of agency, and we’re ruthless in culling for talent. 2024 will be no exception, especially as we expand our hiring.
